Besides Black Friday, November is also well-known for Remembrance Day. However, not many people know about World Kindness Day – November 13th!

HISTORY OF WORLD KINDNESS DAY

So where does it come from, and what purposes it brings to the world?

On November 13th, World Kindness Day is celebrated around the world. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a union of kindness NGOs. This date is observed in many countries. This date is observed in many countries, including Canada, United States, Australia... The World Kindness Day’s end purpose is to highlight good deeds in the community, focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness that binds us. In short, spreading kindness, positivity and support a sustainable lifestyle.

World Kindness Movement’s MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

The mission of the World Kindness Movement is to inspire individuals and nations to create a better, kinder, and more positive world through creating impartial kindness programs and projects in cities, schools, and communities across the globe.

According to the New York Post, WKM’s objectives are as follows:

•      To raise awareness of WKM
•      To share ideas and projects of kindness programs worldwide
•      To increase international membership
•      To provide opportunities for members to network and collaborate

WHAT DOES KINDNESS MEAN TO YOU?

In honour of World Kindness Day, there are simple and small things we can do to celebrate. It is crucial to raise awareness on this day and make the world a better, more positive place on earth. As a Fresh Fashion Library member, I’m going to donate my lovely clothing which doesn’t fit me or my current style anymore to the Library! Or simply, whenever I buy a coffee, I’ll buy an extra one for those less fortunate people out there, freezing in the winter cold of Canada. What about you, are you with me?

Check out this image below for some other simple ways you can give a random act of kindness:

It’s November, which means your favourite stores are hyping you up for one of the biggest shopping events of the year: Black Friday. And let’s not forget its partner-in-crime, Cyber Monday. You’ve seen the ads, and you’re looking forward to snatching up great deals. It’s every shopping-lover’s dream, but there is a catch. Be careful you’re not actually walking into a dangerous trap: overspending. While we think we are saving big, we can end up spending and buying more: more than we want, more than we need.

So how can we make sure we don’t fall into this dark “over-spend” hole? Here are 7 things to consider before you go all-out for Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

 

1. Learn from the past

We know it might be painful to revisit this memory, but what happened last year on Black Friday, or any year before? Remember cringing while checking your credit card statement? Before you go out this year, take some time to reflect on previous Black Fridays, and let’s try to prevent those cringey feelings!

 

2. Don’t pull out the card


Don’t even think about pulling out a credit card unless you are 100% sure you can comfortably pay it off at the end of the month. To constantly making new purchases on your credit card, you’re not only responsible for the costs, but also the interest charged if you can’t pay it off by a certain date in the (very) near future.

 

3. Logic is your best guidance

There are certain good deals that only happen on Black Friday, but be mentally prepared to know when it’s enough. Leave your emotions at home and let reason be your guide.

 

4. Bring a friend with you

To make sure you follow your original plan, bring your friend who can be an extra help to decide what to buy and what to leave on the rack.

 

5. Plan to have a certain budget

And stick to it! It’s definitely a good idea to make a list of the specific items you are hoping to pick up this Black Friday, and then limit yourself with the budget.

 

6. Know when to prioritize and when not to rush

Prioritizing can be a hard decision; however; it’s smart not to rush. For clothing and shoes, keep in mind that if you’re a popular size, you might have to rush. It’s a fact that deals are gone quickly on Black Friday. But it can be easy to feel pressured into purchasing something without being persuaded if it’s really doing any good.

Pro tip from our team: if an item meets your needs, take a little time to do some research. Read some reviews or check out similar items. It can be very tempting to feel like you absolutely have to act now, but it would be very frustrating to only end up with a poor purchase.

 

7. Put the gifts to a minimum. There are so many ways to let people know how much they mean to you or that you are thinking of them during the holidays without spending a lot of money. Think handmade gifts: soap, knitwear, etc..

Well, that’s a wrap! Hope everyone is ready to enjoy this crazy shopping holiday. Let the hunting game begin! Just kidding. Cost-conscious aside, let’s also be environmentally-conscious -- you don’t want to have too much unrecyclable packaging and shopping bags in your home!

Any day can be an all-black outfit kind of day. It’s not just a colour — it’s a uniform, a daily uniform for people who like to keep it classic, elegant, and simple. Whenever you don’t know what to wear for the day or when you’re sick and tired of trying to find a way to mix and match primary colours altogether, an all-black look is the perfect choice.

So, are there any rules on how to wear black? Not really, but here are some styles tips from our Fresh Fashion Library team to help make sure your outfits are always on point.

1. Diversify the fabrics and textures. Nothing looks duller than an all-black outfit which is all the same materials.

2. On top of the first rule, it’s crucial to assure that the material is season appropriate. A black wool outfit will look gorgeous in the fall, but out-of-place and odd in the summer. During summer months, silk and linen is perfect to pull off an all-black outfit.

3. When putting together a black-on-black look, the fit of each clothing item becomes even more important. Take advantage of the fact that black is slimming and tones your body shape. It’s better to choose black clothing items that are flattering and fit your body well, so the look isn’t too shaggy and too oversized.

4. Add a hint of your own personality with accessories. Bold, colourful jewelry becomes the statement piece of your outfit, if you are a playful person. Personally, a perfect partner for any all black outfit is a pair of neutral coloured stilettos. They make any black outfit look more casual and transitional, plus it’s always a classic, timeless piece to add on.

5. A simple change to your makeup can be a game changer for any black outfit. For example, try a natural pink lip stain with your little black dress during the day, and switch to a deep red lip at nighttime. A seamless transition with the same outfit, just adding drama with a bold lip colour.

October means.. SPOOKY SEASON!

Halloween has been an exciting event for a fan of makeup and dress-up person like me since I was a kid!

For a make-up and dress-up fan like myself, Halloween has been an exciting event for me since I was a kid.

And as a fan, I’ve come up with a list of “pick-a-boo” looks for you to join me in this awesome day.

As many as there are out there, here are my 3 top themes for Halloween easiest, quickest and most outspoken to go with for Halloween.

There are so many great ideas out there, but here are my top 3 easiest, quickest, and most outspoken costume ideas.

1. DISNEY theme

Disney has always been a timeless theme and Disney cosplay is a fit for everyone!

You can be Elsa from Frozen, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White is always a classic…. if you see yourself as a real-life princess! (Chances are, you actually are ;) !)

Or like me, I consider myself a villain and enjoy being the Wicked Witch of Oz! Vroom vroom zoom zoom with my broom!

Here are a couple of makeup looks inspired by Disney, both Princess and Villain.

Kimberly Money is an LA-based makeup artist who has merged princesses and villains to create these amazing make-up looks for Halloween.

*Red Queen and Alice in Wonderland*

*Snow White and The evil Queen*

1. HOLLYWOOD theme

This is my favourite theme! The Hollywood spectrum is pretty broad: you can be anything from superheroes/villains like Cat Woman, Super Woman, Ivy Poison, Kill Bill, X-Men, etc,.. to iconic fashion figures like Miranda in Devil Wears Prada, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (with a classic little black dress and pearl necklace), Cher in Clueless with a yellow plaid miniskirt and blazer. Or, even better and simpler, since Halloween is on a Wednesday day this year, head-to-toe pink because “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.”

*Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s*

*Lady Gaga as Edward Scissor Hands*

*Khloe Kardashian as Storm in X-Men*

* Lindsay Lohan as Cat Woman*

1. MEME theme

MEME theme is absolutely fun and full of surprises. My inner nerd spirit once came out on Halloween 2 years ago, and I decided to be a Salt Bae (which was super easy to cosplay: a plain white t-shirt, black jeans, a retro sunglass, and of course, a mini salt bottle).

The Simpsons never goes old. *Emily Ratajkowski*

 

Last but not least, The Rock with his chain and belly bag! EPIC!

I hope this post inspired you to dress up for Halloween, and I hope you all have a wonderful time! As for myself, I’ll be dressing up as the Walmart boy since the meme was popping all summer long!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

*Written by Nicole Truong, stylist intern at Fresh Fashion Library*

Have you ever looked at your closet, wanted to organize it, but don’t know where to start? Have you ever interested in a minimalist lifestyle but don’t know where to start? Sit tight, I'm here to share you with my 4 easy steps to decluttering your closet.

Decluttering has always been THAT problem that gets but rarely got fixed immediately! It’s not a hard job but it needs a lot of patience and organization skill. This post is going to make it easier for you.

 

STEPS FOR DECLUTTERING YOUR CLOSET

I recommend doing a seasonal decluttering "sweep" so things don't pile up.

Step 1:

First thing first, you need to EMPTY THE SPACE.

Yes, you read that right! Take out every single item from your closet.

Why? To see how much clothing you really have and decide how much of it you want to keep!

This also preps you for Step 2.

 

You can’t build your dream closet without imagining how it would look like. Which is why step 1 was so important -- it gives you a blank slate so you can start fresh. Look for inspiration on platforms like Instagram, Tumblr, WeHeartIt, etc. I highly recommend Pinterest because it’s so well-organized.

 

Psst… check out our Pinterest board for ideas!

 

Step 3:

“DIVIDE AND CONQUER”.

Separate your pile of clothing into 3 smaller piles and name them YES, MAYBE, and NO.

Be brutal and show no mercy! Especially to your socks and lingerie -- they all have a shelf-life and do “expire”.

When your first response to any item is a YES, mentally match that item with another item to make an outfit as quickly as possible. After that, think about where you can wear that outfit to. If you can think of more than two events, for example, a shirt that you can wear to work or to a hangout with friends, it’s definitely a yes. If not, don’t hesitate and put it in the MAYBE pile.

Items in your NO pile can go to donations or yard-sales.

 Our co-founder Samia breaks down her process of categorizing her items. Read her blog post here.

Step 4: Enjoy

 

How do you feel? Accomplished? Liberated? You did it!

I hope we share the same feeling, because I usually feel happy and relaxed and productive after cleaning and organizing things around me. Not only do you finish organizing, but you are also doing something good for your community by donating or selling some items.

 Enjoy your newly decluttered closet!

 

*Written by FreshRent’s stylist intern, Nicole- who’s a minimalist, taking Fashion Management at GBC*

 

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Letting go is never easy. This holds true for jobs that provide us with stability, relationships that make us feel safe, or the excessive amount of clothing that sits wastefully in our closets. Over the last decade or so, I’ve accumulated a ton of clothing that hasn’t been worn in years and some still with tags on! I know a lot of you can relate. We all want to declutter, hope to wear more than 10% of our closets, and know that we should do something about our wasteful ways. However, it’s not that easy to turn our ‘wants’, ‘hopes’, and ‘shoulds’ into action – I know because I just went through this daunting task myself.

On a Saturday morning, I decided to just dive right in. I cleared out EVERYTHING from my two stuffed closets and explosive chest of drawers. It felt liberating…until I saw that my entire room looked like it was hit by a tornado. It was a sudden and overwhelming realization of “Oh no…what have I gotten myself into”.

I turned to Google for help and started reading other blogs and articles on how one should go about this. Apparently, I was supposed to make a YES, MAYBE, and NO pile – so I did. My YES pile included my go-tos and frequently worn pieces. It also included some pleasant surprises I found that had gotten lost / forgotten in my whirlwind of a closet. My NO pile consisted of the “what I was thinking?” or “this looks like it was made for a child” items. However, majority of my items ended up in the MAYBE category which I assume is a common challenge when clearing out our closets. So here’s how I dealt with what was in my MAYBE pile:

 

1. What if this comes back in style?

We’ve all seen fashion trends resurface. Case in point – high-waisted jeans.

Here’s what I did: I asked myself, if this trend came back in style after 5 years, would I (me, personally) still be into it? Would I still wear those extra low-rise jeans from high-school if they came back in style today? No. Definitely not. Reality is, after establishing some understanding of our personal styles and preferences, we don’t usually evolve or adapt to the same clock as fashion.

 

2. Aw my university hoodie and my kick-ass collection of band tees!

Yes – we all have those pieces that are just too sentimental to get rid of. For me, it was primarily my extensive collection of rock band tees that each reminded me of a particular concert or memory in time.

Here’s what I did: allowed myself 1 small dedicated drawer to keep my most memorable pieces. This dedicated space forced me to prioritize my most prized possessions and kept me disciplined.

 

3. These smaller sized items are going to push me to lose weight.

We often keep clothing that no longer fits because we think it will motivate us to make healthier choices. Truth is – we cannot use material objects that will sit in the back of our closet as inspiration to create change.

Here’s what I did: tried each questionable piece on and moved it to the NO pile if it didn’t fit. I also took some time to accept that my body has changed, and set fitness goals in something I actually look at daily (i.e. journal). Remember - you are beautiful and all the motivation you need to make positive changes lies within you (but that’s a whole other blog!).

 

Everything else I still had in my MAYBE pile, I brought to the Fresh Fashion Library. It was an easy way to de-clutter but still allowed me with the option to have my items back if I needed them. Update: it’s been 3 months and I have taken 0 items back.

 

Here are my closets and drawers before the huge clear-out:

 

And this is after!

 

 

We are in a constant state of consumption because we feel that it will lead to more fulfilling lives. I’m learning that abundance isn’t defined by the number of items I have in my closet. There is greater freedom and clarity that lie beyond letting go of past possessions that no longer serve us. Clearing out my closet has not only made me feel lighter and happier, it has also saved me a lot of time in getting dressed everyday.  I still have a long way to go but I hope my progress so far motivates you to join me in kick-starting your journey as well. 

 

 

- Samia

September 2018

 

 

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